One of my pet peeves in binoculars, telescopes and other optics aids is that wink one gets when one's moves eye. In other words, if you don't keep your eyes really centered at the lens, you get that "wink" that causes the image being viewed to disappear.
Is there a term to ask for when buying quality optics to allow for more forgiveness when the eye moves off center?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dilbert.com
Brad Stone blogs for the NYTimes today about Dilbert.com that now provides "mash-ups" that allow people to write their own punchlines for a Dilbert cartoon strip. I just tried it. Here's my result:
Dilbert.com provides the embed code, so I take that to be a license to be allowed to post like this.
[Update: Embed isn't working. Can anyone else get it to work?]
[Update 2: Maybe it is working. It's showing just the part that I wrote. Not much fun to embed this, though.]
This site requires Adobe Flash, please click here to get it.
Dilbert.com provides the embed code, so I take that to be a license to be allowed to post like this.
[Update: Embed isn't working. Can anyone else get it to work?]
[Update 2: Maybe it is working. It's showing just the part that I wrote. Not much fun to embed this, though.]
I'd like to have been at this pitch meeting
"I've got a great idea for a new game. And a catchy name, too!"
Ana-nothra etc
If you use Google to search for Scooter's word, as punctuated, here's what you get:
[Update: I see it's too small to see. SSJ is second of two results. Tried posting a "large" image, but it was taking forever.]
[Update: I see it's too small to see. SSJ is second of two results. Tried posting a "large" image, but it was taking forever.]
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Who owns corporations?
In the wake of LJ and Scooter's exchange about corporations, I wondered about the demographic picture of stock ownership in America. Here's a graph from the Economic Policy Institute's publication, The State of Working America 2006/2007, showing stock ownership by wealth class during the period 1989-2004:
The graph is presented here with permission from EPI.
EPI describes that this chart shows that "[i]n 2004, the wealthiest 1% owned 36.9% of all stocks, while the next 9% owned 41.9%. Hence, the wealthiest 10% controlled about 80% of all stocks while the bottom 90% owned just over 20%."
More information on this chart is on EPI's website.
There are several things about this that are fuzzy to me. For example, the text on their site says that this is for "all stock", but I'm guessing they mean all U.S. stock. Also, ownership adds up to 100%, in spite of the fact that there's obviously lots of foreign investment in U.S. stock. So I think the percents are based on U.S. stock owned by U.S. citizens. Maybe the answers are there somewhere, but I just haven't found them.
Anyone have better or clearer information on this topic?
The graph is presented here with permission from EPI.EPI describes that this chart shows that "[i]n 2004, the wealthiest 1% owned 36.9% of all stocks, while the next 9% owned 41.9%. Hence, the wealthiest 10% controlled about 80% of all stocks while the bottom 90% owned just over 20%."
More information on this chart is on EPI's website.
There are several things about this that are fuzzy to me. For example, the text on their site says that this is for "all stock", but I'm guessing they mean all U.S. stock. Also, ownership adds up to 100%, in spite of the fact that there's obviously lots of foreign investment in U.S. stock. So I think the percents are based on U.S. stock owned by U.S. citizens. Maybe the answers are there somewhere, but I just haven't found them.
Anyone have better or clearer information on this topic?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What is LJ listening to?
These days, I'm listening to the 2nd (and last) album by one of the most influential British bands of the late 70's. The music was rhythmic, the lyrics were introspective and tended to be sad and painful. And they had an event occur that usually cements the on-going legacy of a band - tragedy. They were THE band of the post-punk era; they were major influences of bands ranging from U2 to The Cure. Their live shows were a bit different, from the lack of lighting to the lack of stage banter to the audience. The cd I'm listening to is a remastered reissue, which includes a cd of one of their last live performances (recorded in February 1980). What is striking is that while the songs on the studio albums are very melodic and clean, they actually preferred the raw, aggressive and loud style you hear on the live cd. The band is Joy Division - the cd is "Closer".
My favorite songs are "Twenty Four Hours", "Isolation", and "Passover". After their lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide just before their first US tour, the band changed their name (and musical style) to New Order. One of the greatest songs of the rock era, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", was released just after the suicide of Curtis. And for anyone that is interested, "Control" was a biographical film of Ian Curtis released in 2007. It is very good and the actor (who I don't recall at this moment) who played him did a great job.
My favorite songs are "Twenty Four Hours", "Isolation", and "Passover". After their lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide just before their first US tour, the band changed their name (and musical style) to New Order. One of the greatest songs of the rock era, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", was released just after the suicide of Curtis. And for anyone that is interested, "Control" was a biographical film of Ian Curtis released in 2007. It is very good and the actor (who I don't recall at this moment) who played him did a great job.
Metzger footnote
I could have mentioned that you won't see Mike Metzger in the Moto X World Championships 2008 video below because he didn't compete in this event. He was injured last year jumping his motorcycle from one barge to another for the Discovery Channel. I believe he's been retired since then and has moved on to art, merchandising his brand, and doing commentary for Moto X events. He also blogs.
No Moto X TV coverage is complete without a compilation of interviews with riders listing their career injuries and I enjoy this immensely for some freakish reason. Of course, you expect they've broken some bones, but the quantity of broken bones per rider is jaw-dropping. And there are of course, plenty of internal injuries as well, like lacerated kidneys. Before the barge accident, Metzger had lost a testicle and had broken his back three times. I don't suppose the riders can find an insurance company to insure them. For the stars in the sport, I suppose their sponsors agree to foot the bill for medical care and provide payouts for disability and life.
While I'm on this topic, I'll pass on this link to footage of Travis Pastrana working toward the double backflip. Lots of crashing.
No Moto X TV coverage is complete without a compilation of interviews with riders listing their career injuries and I enjoy this immensely for some freakish reason. Of course, you expect they've broken some bones, but the quantity of broken bones per rider is jaw-dropping. And there are of course, plenty of internal injuries as well, like lacerated kidneys. Before the barge accident, Metzger had lost a testicle and had broken his back three times. I don't suppose the riders can find an insurance company to insure them. For the stars in the sport, I suppose their sponsors agree to foot the bill for medical care and provide payouts for disability and life.
While I'm on this topic, I'll pass on this link to footage of Travis Pastrana working toward the double backflip. Lots of crashing.
Someone should report on the Moto X World Championships
In 2002, I watched Mike Metzger land back-to-back backflips in competition. It's not often that something on your TV pulls you out of your chair and has you jumping up and down and hollering, hardly believing what you've just seen, but a man doing a backflip on a motorcycle had that effect on me.
Here's where the sport has taken the backflip, from the Moto X World Championships last week:
Mike Metger holds the record for the longest backflip, after backflipping over the fountain at Caesar's Palace.
Riders typically learn the backflip by landing in a pit of foam blocks, but legend has it that Metzger learned it on dirt.
Here's where the sport has taken the backflip, from the Moto X World Championships last week:
Mike Metger holds the record for the longest backflip, after backflipping over the fountain at Caesar's Palace.
Riders typically learn the backflip by landing in a pit of foam blocks, but legend has it that Metzger learned it on dirt.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Trigger pulled
I went to eyebuydirect rather than Zenni only because I found a frame that fit better. Total cost (including a $35.00 charge to make my coke bottles extra thin) came in at $95.00. That is some $250.00 cheaper than my last pair from Eyemasters (where I had a 50% off coupon). Site said two weeks.
Btw, for those who still want to buy at a bricks and mortar store, always visit the store's website for downloadable coupons first.
Btw, for those who still want to buy at a bricks and mortar store, always visit the store's website for downloadable coupons first.
Re: Don't sigh at me, mister
From another site from GlassyEyes 39dollarglasses.com this site got a good review from the WSJ (at least according to the site) and they have Nickelodeon glasses:
PD Measuring.
Eyeglass measurements made easy:
How do I measure the frame I already have?
On the inside of the frame, you will see numbers that tell you the frame measurement of your existing frame.
The temple arm length is usually written on the inside of one of the temples. The number is usually between 125 and 145, and represents the full temple length (including the bend) in millimeters (mm).
The eye size and nose bridge measurements are sometimes stamped in that same place, and are either separated with a dash ( - ) or a small box between the numbers. An example is 49-19, which would mean an eye size (widest part of the lens) of 49mm and a nose bridge (also called DBL or distance between lenses) measurement of 19mm. It is also very common for these to be stamped or engraved on the inside of the nose bridge.
My nikes have the nos. 48 20 140 printed on the left temple arm so I've got 48mm wide lenses (missed that measurement by 2mm), a nose bridge of 20mm (a measurement I hadn't considered) and temple arm length is 140 (missed that one by 5mm). No dashes or small boxes.
I measure temple to temple across the top of my glasses (turning them upside down and laying them on the ruler seems to work best) to their widest point which on my nikes is the outside of the hinges which extend slightly beyond the outside edges of the lenses. I hate getting too narrow glasses...causes the temple arms to flex.
More help here (click on "What do these numbers mean?").
PD Measuring.
Eyeglass measurements made easy:
How do I measure the frame I already have?
On the inside of the frame, you will see numbers that tell you the frame measurement of your existing frame.
The temple arm length is usually written on the inside of one of the temples. The number is usually between 125 and 145, and represents the full temple length (including the bend) in millimeters (mm).
The eye size and nose bridge measurements are sometimes stamped in that same place, and are either separated with a dash ( - ) or a small box between the numbers. An example is 49-19, which would mean an eye size (widest part of the lens) of 49mm and a nose bridge (also called DBL or distance between lenses) measurement of 19mm. It is also very common for these to be stamped or engraved on the inside of the nose bridge.
My nikes have the nos. 48 20 140 printed on the left temple arm so I've got 48mm wide lenses (missed that measurement by 2mm), a nose bridge of 20mm (a measurement I hadn't considered) and temple arm length is 140 (missed that one by 5mm). No dashes or small boxes.
I measure temple to temple across the top of my glasses (turning them upside down and laying them on the ruler seems to work best) to their widest point which on my nikes is the outside of the hinges which extend slightly beyond the outside edges of the lenses. I hate getting too narrow glasses...causes the temple arms to flex.
More help here (click on "What do these numbers mean?").
Re: Specs (sigh)
There is a measurement for each pair of glasses on the Zenni website that is "frame width." I assume that a measurement was taken of your still thick noggin that you then related to "frame width." What measurement was taken and how was it taken? How does that measurement relate to "frame width?" Is it the same number? Is it 10 mm less? How does one measure for "temple arm length?"
New Sherlock Holmes stories
There are many. Go to this link and look at the nine pages of "Customers Who Bought This Also Bought." Stephanie's favorite writer, Michael Chabon, wrote "The Final Solution" with Holmes as a very old recluse, which I read and enjoyed. Perhaps the best-known post-ACD story is "The Seven-Percent Solution" by Nicholas Meyer, which was also a pretty good movie.
There are of course many versions of the original canon in print. The best is the recent 1878 page two-volume annotated set.
From the Publisher's Weekly blurb: Sherlockians and more casual Holmes fans alike will delight in this comprehensive edition of the 56 original short adventures featuring the world's first private consulting detective. Modeling his efforts on William S. Baring-Gould's 1968 Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Klinger (The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library) packs as many extras into these two volumes as a special director's cut DVD: detailed essays on subjects as diverse as the Boer War and the history of rugby, illuminating citations to early drafts of Doyle's original manuscripts,and full discussions of the numerous theories developed over more than a century concerning ambiguities, contradictions and unresolved issues in the stories. Those new to such scholarship will be fascinated by the sophisticated multidisciplined approach, much of it based on close readings and historical research similar to Bible study. The synthesis of the commentaries will engage veteran Sherlockians, who will be able to compare hypotheses concerning, for example, the true identity of the king of Bohemia or Holmes's actual whereabouts during the Great Hiatus.
The four novels have now been added in a third volume (on my Christmas list).
There are of course many versions of the original canon in print. The best is the recent 1878 page two-volume annotated set.
From the Publisher's Weekly blurb: Sherlockians and more casual Holmes fans alike will delight in this comprehensive edition of the 56 original short adventures featuring the world's first private consulting detective. Modeling his efforts on William S. Baring-Gould's 1968 Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Klinger (The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library) packs as many extras into these two volumes as a special director's cut DVD: detailed essays on subjects as diverse as the Boer War and the history of rugby, illuminating citations to early drafts of Doyle's original manuscripts,and full discussions of the numerous theories developed over more than a century concerning ambiguities, contradictions and unresolved issues in the stories. Those new to such scholarship will be fascinated by the sophisticated multidisciplined approach, much of it based on close readings and historical research similar to Bible study. The synthesis of the commentaries will engage veteran Sherlockians, who will be able to compare hypotheses concerning, for example, the true identity of the king of Bohemia or Holmes's actual whereabouts during the Great Hiatus.
The four novels have now been added in a third volume (on my Christmas list).
Monday, April 14, 2008
Umm, sandwich
VDH on a point I wish I'd posted this morning on the latest Obama flap:
So the frustrated protectionists of Middle America are “anti-trade”, what then does that mean for the Harvard-educated NAFTA-trashing Obama?
Really, really, I thought about this this morning. I couldn't figure out what Sen. Obama meant when he threw in the anti-trade comment given the whole Colombia trade deal. I guess I attributed it to a too unpolished politician.
My initial reaction is really turning out to be wrong.
So the frustrated protectionists of Middle America are “anti-trade”, what then does that mean for the Harvard-educated NAFTA-trashing Obama?
Really, really, I thought about this this morning. I couldn't figure out what Sen. Obama meant when he threw in the anti-trade comment given the whole Colombia trade deal. I guess I attributed it to a too unpolished politician.
My initial reaction is really turning out to be wrong.
Woody's not bitter...
Woody- "I'm not bitter, Sam. I'm just consumed by a gnawing hate that's eating away at my gut until I can taste the bile in my mouth."
Audio here almost to the bottom of page.
Audio here almost to the bottom of page.
specs specs
Temple arm length 145 mm
Lens width 50 mm
Lens height 30 mm
Temple to temple 135 mm, my readers; 140 mm, my nike specs
PD 62-63 mm
Lens width 50 mm
Lens height 30 mm
Temple to temple 135 mm, my readers; 140 mm, my nike specs
PD 62-63 mm
The Italian Secretary
A Sherlock Holmes story by Caleb Carr. Holmes and Watson go to Scotland at the request of Mycroft, who is working for Queen Victoria. Interesting descriptions of Edinburgh, Balmoral Castle, and Holyrood Palace, but that's about all.
Since Stephanie's post about slogging through or bagging, I've bagged two stinkers, Relic and Seven Deadly Wonders.
I wanted to give Lincoln Child another try and he's co-written a lot with Douglas Preston, including Relic. The writing's fine but the story appears to be about a man-lizard creature hiding out in the catacombs of the Museum of Natural History. Meh.
SDW is filled with lots of maps and diagrams (which probably sucked me in) but it is a preposterous story that appears to have some modern-day adventure associated with each of the Great Wonders. I got 50 pages into the first adventure about the search for the head of the Colossus of Rhodes, which was hidden by someone inside a jungle mountain somewhere. Lots of deadly secret traps are avoided or thwarted by our team (which includes an eight-year old girl), while racing against a competing faction of Euros led by a monk. And there's a team of Americans not far behind! Bah. It looks like the editor couldn't finish it either because the really important stuff is italicized so you don't miss it. "And then he stomped on the key stone, releasing an avalanche of flaming clkjdnflk;sj;vb...."
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Re: Gay Marriage and States Rights
Thanks for not holding me to the state’s platform. There are many things in there that make my more libertarian side cringe. And, egad, we certainly don’t need a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The reason there are efforts to redefine/codify the other relationships is because marriage is, save only in Massachusetts as far as I know, between a man and a woman.
This is obviously a question about which you feel strongly. It is not one that keeps me up at night. I certainly don’t care about what relationships into which any consenting adults want to enter (even the polyamorous). Accordingly, this is just me spouting off as opposed to any real study.
The question to me is not so much about denying rights to nontraditional relationships, as to whether special rights should be conferred on relationships other than the traditional one of marriage between man and woman. Those special rights can all be obtained in other, granted much less romantic, ways: contract, powers of attorney, etc.
Indeed, I just helped an associate here in Austin "divorce" from her partner by helping get all the assets divided properly. Fortunately for me there weren’t all that many and they had prepared all the paperwork correctly. I'm not married and have none of the benefits that the married designation carries with it. If I want those benefits, I can arrange for almost all of them. Marriage "penalty" coming back in a couple of years by the way.
The states rights question is pretty easy actually to me. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Granted that it’s gotten all mucked up since 1789 (Michael’s con law prof says that even "judicial review" is extra-constitutional), but to me, the idea that experimentation should go on at the state level was a thing of beauty. Let the states be scientists with the grand experiments. If one is going to overturn a 400 year old "traditional" definition (here at least) of the institution of the family, why rush pell-mell into it?
Cognitive dissonance: full faith and credit clause.
This is obviously a question about which you feel strongly. It is not one that keeps me up at night. I certainly don’t care about what relationships into which any consenting adults want to enter (even the polyamorous). Accordingly, this is just me spouting off as opposed to any real study.
The question to me is not so much about denying rights to nontraditional relationships, as to whether special rights should be conferred on relationships other than the traditional one of marriage between man and woman. Those special rights can all be obtained in other, granted much less romantic, ways: contract, powers of attorney, etc.
Indeed, I just helped an associate here in Austin "divorce" from her partner by helping get all the assets divided properly. Fortunately for me there weren’t all that many and they had prepared all the paperwork correctly. I'm not married and have none of the benefits that the married designation carries with it. If I want those benefits, I can arrange for almost all of them. Marriage "penalty" coming back in a couple of years by the way.
The states rights question is pretty easy actually to me. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Granted that it’s gotten all mucked up since 1789 (Michael’s con law prof says that even "judicial review" is extra-constitutional), but to me, the idea that experimentation should go on at the state level was a thing of beauty. Let the states be scientists with the grand experiments. If one is going to overturn a 400 year old "traditional" definition (here at least) of the institution of the family, why rush pell-mell into it?
Cognitive dissonance: full faith and credit clause.
Re: Reading habits
I generally can tell ahead of time if I'm going to like it. I'm too cheap to buy anything other than airport fiction that I haven't pretty well researched. Ultimately, it depends upon why I'm reading.
Certainly, if I'm not enjoying a piece of fiction, I'll bail early like Michael unless it's something I "need" to have read, e.g., my occasional (I shoot for annual) foray back into Maugham, Austen, Wilde, Tolstoy, etc. Except for Joyce, I find him unreadable.
If it's non-fiction, then it is less about enjoyment than utility. So much the better if I can get both. I've been reading Liberal Fascism for two months now. It is taking a long time, not because I'm not enjoying or because it is overly difficult, but because I find myself in a really slow reading period. I'm usually good for your puny 2-3 per month. Don't know what's up with me. Too much religion and guns I guess...just kidding.
If I'm reading because Michael told me to, then I....must.....finish. Actually, of the two most recent recommendations of his that I've read (Roth's The Plot Against America and Buckley's Little Green Men), I enjoyed both.
Certainly, if I'm not enjoying a piece of fiction, I'll bail early like Michael unless it's something I "need" to have read, e.g., my occasional (I shoot for annual) foray back into Maugham, Austen, Wilde, Tolstoy, etc. Except for Joyce, I find him unreadable.
If it's non-fiction, then it is less about enjoyment than utility. So much the better if I can get both. I've been reading Liberal Fascism for two months now. It is taking a long time, not because I'm not enjoying or because it is overly difficult, but because I find myself in a really slow reading period. I'm usually good for your puny 2-3 per month. Don't know what's up with me. Too much religion and guns I guess...just kidding.
If I'm reading because Michael told me to, then I....must.....finish. Actually, of the two most recent recommendations of his that I've read (Roth's The Plot Against America and Buckley's Little Green Men), I enjoyed both.
Are you smarter than an 1895 8th Grader?
Sample questions from the 4 hour test for Salina, Kansas 8th graders from 1895:
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865?
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
Full test here.
H/t: Dr. Dean
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865?
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
Full test here.
H/t: Dr. Dean
Obama's SF remarks
What Obama was trying to say is perfectly reasonable and valid. He's saying that when Democrats don't have policies that respond to economic needs of working class people, working class voters turn to other issues to decide how to vote: for the party more affiliated with gun rights, for the party that claims ownership of respect for religion and for the party that shows more hostility to illegal immigrants. His mistake in San Francisco was in saying all this in a much too short-hand manner. Here he is, saying exactly the same thing, but in the long-hand version on Charlie Rose in 2004:
H/t to Josh Marshall, who cites a reader GB, at TPM.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Reading habits: to finish or not to finish
Matrimony was a book club book.What do you all do when you are in the middle of a book you're not enjoying and you doubt it's going to improve. Do you bag it and move on, risking that you'll miss out on a good ending? Or do you believe in sticking with it to the end because you're not a quitter or because sticking with it has paid off enough in the past that you have a reasonable expectation of payoff?
We have such a limited amount of time for book reading. I'm guessing I average a paltry two books per month. I plan to read until I'm 85 (strictly rocking and looking out the window for the final 15 years) and I'm 44 now. 41 years X 24 books = 984 books. It's a puny number given the gazillions of books available.
By the way, 984 books at 1.5 inches each would fill 123 linear feet of shelf space.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Great news for ExxonMobil Shareholders
From today's Dallas Morning News:
Yep, it was such good news that the stock value went down.
Added note #1: I have attended 3 EM shareholders meetings and at all 3, I never heard anyone speak positively about executive compensation. All speakers on that subject were opposed to the high increases.
Added note #2: One of my favorite memories of my 20+ years working at Exxon/ExxonMobil was from the early 90's. My boss called me in to tell me about getting a raise. Normally, when you got a raise, you were told a percentage, such as..."you got a x-percent increase effective whenever." This time, I was given a $ figure. I asked him, "well, what percentage is that?". That was important because the higher rated performance-wise you were, the higher percentage you got. He got a bit uncomfortable before telling me it was "about 3%". That was one of the lowest raises I had ever gotten, even though for that performance period, I wasn't rated low. I voiced some displeasure about this and his response was this....
"Well, between you and me, 3% is one of the highest I've seen this year. Really, you should be happy with that percentage. Besides, (name of the President of Exxon Co USA) 'only' got a 3% raise himself."
I'm not sure how he knew how much the President of Exxon USA got, but I really doubted that it "was only 3%". My reply to him was somehow I didn't feel all that happy because even I could figure out that 3% of my salary was a whole lot less than 3% of the President of EUSA's. He didn't think that was too funny.
"Exxon Mobil Corp said Thursday it raised chief executive Rex Tillerson's compensation by 29 percent (my emphasis added) last year to $16.7 million. Mr. Tillerson's salary rose 17 percent (my emphasis added) to $1.75 million and his bonus increased 20 percent (my emphasis added) to $3.36 million, the Irving-based company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Exxon Mobil shares fell 15 cents (my emphasis added) to $89.55."
Yep, it was such good news that the stock value went down.
Added note #1: I have attended 3 EM shareholders meetings and at all 3, I never heard anyone speak positively about executive compensation. All speakers on that subject were opposed to the high increases.
Added note #2: One of my favorite memories of my 20+ years working at Exxon/ExxonMobil was from the early 90's. My boss called me in to tell me about getting a raise. Normally, when you got a raise, you were told a percentage, such as..."you got a x-percent increase effective whenever." This time, I was given a $ figure. I asked him, "well, what percentage is that?". That was important because the higher rated performance-wise you were, the higher percentage you got. He got a bit uncomfortable before telling me it was "about 3%". That was one of the lowest raises I had ever gotten, even though for that performance period, I wasn't rated low. I voiced some displeasure about this and his response was this....
"Well, between you and me, 3% is one of the highest I've seen this year. Really, you should be happy with that percentage. Besides, (name of the President of Exxon Co USA) 'only' got a 3% raise himself."
I'm not sure how he knew how much the President of Exxon USA got, but I really doubted that it "was only 3%". My reply to him was somehow I didn't feel all that happy because even I could figure out that 3% of my salary was a whole lot less than 3% of the President of EUSA's. He didn't think that was too funny.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Re: Re: Googlegangers
When I was living in Houston, I came home one day to find an envelope taped to my front door. It was from a Constable (some type of law enforcement) asking me to come by the nearest station. I had no idea what they wanted (the note wasn't specific) and went. Upon arrival, I was asked several questions: name, address, birthday, approx height. I kept asking them why they were asking me these things. Finally, they asked me if I had ever been to a certain town between Galveston and Beaumont (I don't recall the name, but I had never been there). I told them I knew of the place, but had never been there. Again, I asked why they were asking me these things. They eventually told me that a women from this town was claiming that I was the father of her child, Lakeshia. I said, ah no, I'm not. Again, they asked me my name, etc. I tried to explain that I have a pretty common name and they obviously had me mixed up with someone. Besides, I told them, how many males with my name did they imagine lived in Houston? We kept going back and forth before I figured out they were asking me everything related to a drivers license. And there was one major thing that they hadn't asked, because it isn't listed on a drivers license - race. So I asked the officer, what was the race of the person they were looking for? He gave me a look that told me it was something he hadn't even thought about. There was a older secretary type lady working nearby, who happened to be African-American. She was chuckling while the officer and I were having this conversation. I finally told him that based upon the name of the child, and of the mother whose name was of a similar vein, that I thought they might want to add race as a filter to narrow their search. The older lady started laughing and said something to the effect of.... "well, maybe you are one of those Michael Jackson looking types." The officer, after he stopped laughing, agreed with me and let me go home....
Strangely, about a year later, I got a notice in the mail from the State of Texas notifying me that I was being sought for failure to pay child support. Seems the same women had had another child, named a variation of Lakeshia, and "I" was named as the father. It took several calls the the State Attorney's office to get it all straightened out.
And for a couple of years after these incidents, my parents would give me a Father's Day card from my 2 "daughters".
Strangely, about a year later, I got a notice in the mail from the State of Texas notifying me that I was being sought for failure to pay child support. Seems the same women had had another child, named a variation of Lakeshia, and "I" was named as the father. It took several calls the the State Attorney's office to get it all straightened out.
And for a couple of years after these incidents, my parents would give me a Father's Day card from my 2 "daughters".
Looming Decrepitude
While hiking Saturday and taking those pics after six hours of painting at the Lions Camp, I learned something about me more than a little disheartening. Of course hiking uphill is difficult; it's harder to go uphill whether one is 18 or 48.
The disheartening part was that for the very first time going downhill hurt my knees.
The disheartening part was that for the very first time going downhill hurt my knees.
Re: Gangers
Many, many guys have my actual name but I've never had an incident with any of them.
The only time I had an issue was a big credit problem when I moved to Denver. A woman there with the female variant of my first name (which I do not use except the first initial when I'm trying to make my very plain name seem more lawyerly...I'm very bitter about this; my brother got the great name) and the same last name had terrible credit and an SSN very close to mine. It took me months to convince HER creditors that we were two different people and get my credit repaired.
The only time I had an issue was a big credit problem when I moved to Denver. A woman there with the female variant of my first name (which I do not use except the first initial when I'm trying to make my very plain name seem more lawyerly...I'm very bitter about this; my brother got the great name) and the same last name had terrible credit and an SSN very close to mine. It took me months to convince HER creditors that we were two different people and get my credit repaired.
Re: Zenni
Am planning to test this soon. Will get a new scrip this weekend, complete with the measurements (temple to temple, pupil center to pupil center, and temple arm length...whatever that is) and order a pair. Will keep you posted on results.
Re: Zenni
I've looked at the site and but for your eyewitness testimony I would have said it's too good to be true. Questions: You mention "head width;" does that translate to "frame width" on the specs? If so, how much play between the two dimensions can there be? Is "temple arm length" not important?
Re: TIZA school
KSTP reports: A Star Tribune newspaper column [Kersten's] has prompted a state investigation into a charter school [TIZA, the alleged Islamic school in Minneapolis].
Re: Googlegangers
I've got two doppelganger stories:
When I was in high school, my mom received a call from a teacher at my former grade school who told her "Stephanie" was having a problem with wetting her pants. My mom was baffled first as to why I was spending time during the day at the grade school, and second as to why she herself hadn't noticed the pants-wetting problem. Eventually they figured out the teacher had called the mother of the wrong Stephanie who shared my last name.
Then, in the early 90's, I received many calls from young men who wanted to know if I was the Stephanie X they'd met at a bar. (No, I wasn't.) I could never understand how this happened exactly. Was this woman someone who actually shared my name and did she give out her full name to strange gentlemen in bars, telling them to look her number up in the phone book, not realizing that they might have trouble finding her? Or was she giving out a fake name, and if so why not also give out a fake number unrelated to the name? Or was she giving out my name and number as a prank on me? Don't know, but it stopped eventually, and I wondered whether that meant she'd found love and settled down.
When I was in high school, my mom received a call from a teacher at my former grade school who told her "Stephanie" was having a problem with wetting her pants. My mom was baffled first as to why I was spending time during the day at the grade school, and second as to why she herself hadn't noticed the pants-wetting problem. Eventually they figured out the teacher had called the mother of the wrong Stephanie who shared my last name.
Then, in the early 90's, I received many calls from young men who wanted to know if I was the Stephanie X they'd met at a bar. (No, I wasn't.) I could never understand how this happened exactly. Was this woman someone who actually shared my name and did she give out her full name to strange gentlemen in bars, telling them to look her number up in the phone book, not realizing that they might have trouble finding her? Or was she giving out a fake name, and if so why not also give out a fake number unrelated to the name? Or was she giving out my name and number as a prank on me? Don't know, but it stopped eventually, and I wondered whether that meant she'd found love and settled down.
Googlegangers
discussed here. It occurs to me that Scooter, LJ, and Stephanie must have many. Any interesting stories?
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Candidates positions on DOMA
Clinton calls for revision of DOMA: I have long been on record supporting equality in benefits and eliminating discrimination against gays and lesbians. I support repealing the provision of DOMA that may prohibit the federal government from providing benefits to people in states that recognize same sex marriage. I strongly support ensuring people in stable, long-term same sex relationships have full equality of benefits, rights, and responsibilities.
Obama calls for complete repeal of DOMA: Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.
McCain on a US Constitution amendment and DOMA in 2004: Mr. President, I think the Defense of Marriage Act represents the quintessentially federalist and Republican approach to this issue. The constitutional amendment we are debating today strikes me as antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans.
Obama calls for complete repeal of DOMA: Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.
McCain on a US Constitution amendment and DOMA in 2004: Mr. President, I think the Defense of Marriage Act represents the quintessentially federalist and Republican approach to this issue. The constitutional amendment we are debating today strikes me as antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans.
Glassy Eyes
Was just talking to one of the lawyers here sporting a new pair of glasses and lamenting how last Friday I had fallen asleep wearing my way too expensive Nike glasses, bending the heck out of them.
He commented that they cost him $45.00. He also said he has about 5 pair. I wanted to confirm they were prescription and he said yes.
He whined that when he gets all the non-glare coatings, etc, the glasses might run as high as $75.
Where exactly do you get them?
Zenni.
What?
Zenni. I’ll send you the link to the Glassy Eyes website that has about four or five different outfits but I’ve only used Zenni. The only thing you have to be careful about is ordering the right size. You need to know your measurements. Width of head, and sweet spot to sweet spot (distance between pupils).
Heck, at $45 a pair I’ll order five different sizes of the same pair until I get it right.
He commented that they cost him $45.00. He also said he has about 5 pair. I wanted to confirm they were prescription and he said yes.
He whined that when he gets all the non-glare coatings, etc, the glasses might run as high as $75.
Where exactly do you get them?
Zenni.
What?
Zenni. I’ll send you the link to the Glassy Eyes website that has about four or five different outfits but I’ve only used Zenni. The only thing you have to be careful about is ordering the right size. You need to know your measurements. Width of head, and sweet spot to sweet spot (distance between pupils).
Heck, at $45 a pair I’ll order five different sizes of the same pair until I get it right.
Platforms and gay marriage and state rights
Sandwich eating for me. In a comment below I said my party has been pretty consistent about not leaving non-discrimination to the states. But our national party platform does indeed leave it to the states to decide about gay "marriage", though seeking equal treatment:
We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal
responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush's divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a "Federal Marriage Amendment."
We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal
responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush's divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a "Federal Marriage Amendment."
In Minnesota, the DFL does not take any position on whether civil rights safeguards for sexual orientation should be state or federal or both, simply stating:
We Oppose:
Discrimination against any person on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, HIV status, marital or homemaker status, disability or age.
Discrimination against any person on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, HIV status, marital or homemaker status, disability or age.
The Texas Democratic Platform does not reference sexual orientation specifically but says this:
Democrats believe our Constitution is intended to prohibit discrimination in all forms; Republicans wish to make it a tool of discrimination.
I can't figure out whether they mean state or federal Constitution, so I can't tell whether Texas Dems see this as a federal or state issue.
Democrats believe our Constitution is intended to prohibit discrimination in all forms; Republicans wish to make it a tool of discrimination.
I can't figure out whether they mean state or federal Constitution, so I can't tell whether Texas Dems see this as a federal or state issue.
[Update: added links for the party platforms]
Re: Islamic school in Minneapolis
As Kersten herself notes: "The ACLU of Minnesota has launched an investigation of TIZA, and the Minnesota Department of Education has also begun a review."
If the allegations are true, the school will be shut down or reformed.
No one -- not taxpayers, Dept of Education, lawmakers, liberals -- no one wants taxpayer money to fund religious schools (or schools in violation of constitutional rights w/r/t religious practices) and we're not interested in exceptions for Muslim schools over Christian schools. Kersten performs a service in bringing the school's activities into the light, if accurate. She needn't write as if no one but her cares.
Oh, and big surprise: the Department of Education lacks the "tools" (i.e $$$) to properly oversee the schools.
If the allegations are true, the school will be shut down or reformed.
No one -- not taxpayers, Dept of Education, lawmakers, liberals -- no one wants taxpayer money to fund religious schools (or schools in violation of constitutional rights w/r/t religious practices) and we're not interested in exceptions for Muslim schools over Christian schools. Kersten performs a service in bringing the school's activities into the light, if accurate. She needn't write as if no one but her cares.
Oh, and big surprise: the Department of Education lacks the "tools" (i.e $$$) to properly oversee the schools.
Taxpayers in Minnesota supporting religious school
This is an outrage! Teaching Christianity in a charter school funded by taxpayers! Where's the ACLU? Where's the DFL? Where are the outraged libs?
Oh. It's not Christians, it's Muslims. Never mind. Nothing to see here.
Oh. It's not Christians, it's Muslims. Never mind. Nothing to see here.
Ace
on verbal gaffes and labeling Rethug candidates.
"And now it begins with McCain. Opening gambit: Out of Touch (Old), with band striking up the first cautious notes of 'Crazy' and 'Stupid' as well."
"And now it begins with McCain. Opening gambit: Out of Touch (Old), with band striking up the first cautious notes of 'Crazy' and 'Stupid' as well."
Utopia
Thriller set in a futuristic theme park. I'd read that someone I like (can't remember who) liked Child.* Meh.
*Not to be confused with Lee Child, who writes the Jack Reacher novels, which are darn good.
Tunnel of Fudge
"Arguably the most famous recipe ever to originate in a cooking contest is Tunnel of Fudge Cake, entered in the 1966 Pillsbury Bake-Off by Houstonian Ella Rita Helfrich. It 'made a diminutive Houston mother of five a celebrity, changed the fortunes of a small company in Minneapolis (Nordic Ware) and made a little-known European pan (the Bundt pan) a mainstay of nearly every American kitchen.'" Recipe for TOF plus other prize winners from Houston here.Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Republican Party platforms on civil unions
Scooter, I appreciate your position on the mixing and matching of condiments (as well as equal opportunity and affirmative action), but here's what the 2006 State Texas Republican Platform has to say on the subject of gay marriage and civil unions:
We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married.
Not only do Texas Republicans want to prevent gay people in Texas from getting married or even unioned, they demand that other states refuse to recognize civil unions. With this, they've ceded the right to claim to be the party defending states' rights.
The 2004 National Republican Party Platform puts it this way:
We further believe that legal recognition and the accompanying benefits afforded couples should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage. [skip] Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges. On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. The Constitutional amendment process guarantees that the final decision will rest with the American people and their elected representatives.
So at the national level too, Republicans have ceded the right to claim to be the party defending states' rights.
It's probably the case that no one agrees with everything in the party platform of the party they favor, so I don't expect Scooter or Michael to defend the nonsense in these planks, either on the merits of gay marriage or on the states' rights hypocrisy. But maybe you could drop a line to your party leaders and let them know that's not where you're at, so that eventually your party finds its way to the righteous side of this issue and we can let the gay people get married in all of the states.
We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married.
Not only do Texas Republicans want to prevent gay people in Texas from getting married or even unioned, they demand that other states refuse to recognize civil unions. With this, they've ceded the right to claim to be the party defending states' rights.
The 2004 National Republican Party Platform puts it this way:
We further believe that legal recognition and the accompanying benefits afforded couples should be preserved for that unique and special union of one man and one woman which has historically been called marriage. [skip] Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges. On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. The Constitutional amendment process guarantees that the final decision will rest with the American people and their elected representatives.
So at the national level too, Republicans have ceded the right to claim to be the party defending states' rights.
It's probably the case that no one agrees with everything in the party platform of the party they favor, so I don't expect Scooter or Michael to defend the nonsense in these planks, either on the merits of gay marriage or on the states' rights hypocrisy. But maybe you could drop a line to your party leaders and let them know that's not where you're at, so that eventually your party finds its way to the righteous side of this issue and we can let the gay people get married in all of the states.
Amazon Kindle?
Anyone thinking about these? I noticed today about a 50% discount for downloads as opposed to dead tree versions of books at Amazon.
Re: Under the Banner
Michael loaned me Under the Banner so long ago he's probably forgotten. I'll move it up the list.
MPL Downloads
Wow. That would be quite the boon to me if Austin (which fancies itself to be on the cutting edge) follows suit.
Goofus and Gallant
I wonder if my mom is still storing my collection of Highlights. Mom, are you reading this? Click on Comments. (She keeps saying she's going to look at SSJ, but she's a busy person and I think she didn't find our topics compelling the one time she got around to it.)
I see Highlights is still published, and still features Goofus and Gallant: "Goofus and Gallant helps children judge their own conduct for themselves through fun-filled adventures."
I see Highlights is still published, and still features Goofus and Gallant: "Goofus and Gallant helps children judge their own conduct for themselves through fun-filled adventures."
Re: Popular
From an OU Ph.D. no less, if that is not somehow oxymoronic. Reminds me of the two guys in that kids magazine, what was that called? Ah, Highlights. [Update, Stephanie beat me with the link.] And the guys were called...
Goofus and Gallant.
Download audio books from Minneapolis Public Library
I'm not an audio-book listener, but I noticed this and pass it on to those of you who are. (Maybe this is standard audio book practice, but it was news to me.)
Minneapolis Library patrons can download free audio books, i.e. don't have to make a trip to the library to check out the CD. From the library's web site:
With the ability to download books from the web through Minneapolis Public Library’s website, commuters can find new and different content 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for their portable listening devices.
Hundreds of titles are narrated by professional actors with years of stage and screen experience and can be downloaded with either radio-quality or CD-quality files. You can listen on any desktop, laptop or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9 and above. Users can also transfer favorite titles to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs and even some smartphone devices.
In a few seconds of Googling, I see that lots of libraries offer an audio book download option, but you must first be a patron of theirs. This creates a geographical restriction on what could otherwise be non-geographically-restricted dissemination of audio books.
But I also see that lots of paid audiobook downloads are dirt cheap, so maybe getting them free isn't that big a deal.
Minneapolis Library patrons can download free audio books, i.e. don't have to make a trip to the library to check out the CD. From the library's web site:
With the ability to download books from the web through Minneapolis Public Library’s website, commuters can find new and different content 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for their portable listening devices.
Hundreds of titles are narrated by professional actors with years of stage and screen experience and can be downloaded with either radio-quality or CD-quality files. You can listen on any desktop, laptop or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9 and above. Users can also transfer favorite titles to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs and even some smartphone devices.
In a few seconds of Googling, I see that lots of libraries offer an audio book download option, but you must first be a patron of theirs. This creates a geographical restriction on what could otherwise be non-geographically-restricted dissemination of audio books.
But I also see that lots of paid audiobook downloads are dirt cheap, so maybe getting them free isn't that big a deal.
Are you popular?
Let's watch and see what makes people like one person and not another:
From Coronet Films (1947). Public domain.
From Coronet Films (1947). Public domain.
More Evidence....
of Dr. Sowell's crush here:
Has anyone actually seen Rachael Ray measure out the ingredients she puts into her cooking, instead of using a pinch of this and a handful of that?
and here:
If Rachael Ray had been black, there are bookstores where her cookbook would not be displayed in the same section with all the other cookbooks. It would be displayed off in a special section for black authors.
This means that many people who were looking for cookbooks would not even see Rachael Ray's cookbook, much less buy it.
Has anyone actually seen Rachael Ray measure out the ingredients she puts into her cooking, instead of using a pinch of this and a handful of that?
and here:
If Rachael Ray had been black, there are bookstores where her cookbook would not be displayed in the same section with all the other cookbooks. It would be displayed off in a special section for black authors.
This means that many people who were looking for cookbooks would not even see Rachael Ray's cookbook, much less buy it.
Dr. Sowell's Crush?
I think he has one on Rachael Ray. This is the second or third time he's mentioned her in a column:
Rachael Ray is showing up in so many places on various television programs, on magazine covers, on boxes of crackers that the question must be asked: Are we sure that she is not twins, or perhaps triplets.
Rachael Ray is showing up in so many places on various television programs, on magazine covers, on boxes of crackers that the question must be asked: Are we sure that she is not twins, or perhaps triplets.
Next stop Willoughby!
Here. Seasons 1 and 2 of The Twilight Zone, as well as Star Trek (which I think Scooter noted some time back) and other stuff.
Ron Paul in Minnesota
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Ron Paul's supporters in Minnesota are having success nabbing GOP delegates:
Over the weekend, they captured six of a dozen GOP national convention delegates elected at congressional district meetings. The rebellion has left local party officials crying foul, even as state leaders downplay the importance of the unexpected result.
[skip]
In Minnesota, 38 Republican delegates to the national convention are selected in a multi-tier process that starts with precinct caucuses and ends with the state convention. Delegates have been selected in six of the state's eight congressional districts, with Paul supporters winning seven of the 24 seats chosen to date. Six more delegates will be selected in the remaining two districts, and the rest will be chosen at the state party convention next month.
They hope to get a speaking gig for Paul at the Convention in St. Paul.
Over the weekend, they captured six of a dozen GOP national convention delegates elected at congressional district meetings. The rebellion has left local party officials crying foul, even as state leaders downplay the importance of the unexpected result.
[skip]
In Minnesota, 38 Republican delegates to the national convention are selected in a multi-tier process that starts with precinct caucuses and ends with the state convention. Delegates have been selected in six of the state's eight congressional districts, with Paul supporters winning seven of the 24 seats chosen to date. Six more delegates will be selected in the remaining two districts, and the rest will be chosen at the state party convention next month.
They hope to get a speaking gig for Paul at the Convention in St. Paul.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Earmarks go soft
NYTimes reports today on "soft" earmarks.
But it turns out lawmakers can still secretly direct billions of dollars to favored organizations by making vague requests rather than issuing explicit instructions to government agencies in committee reports and spending bills. That seeming courtesy is the difference between “soft earmarks” and the more insistent “hard earmarks.
[skip]
In considering lawmakers’ spending requests, some committees in recent years have switched hard earmarks to soft ones, saying it gives agencies more flexibility. Critics, including Mr. Flake, suggest it is being done to avoid scrutiny.
“With the efforts to shine more light on the earmarking process,” he said, “I am concerned that we might see increasingly creative ways to steer funding to recipients of funding that members of Congress want to see it go to.”
So it might be the case that earmarks are not shrinking under the Democratically controlled (sort of) Congress since 2006. Nevertheless, we must keep earmarks in perspective: hard earmarks account for something in the neighborhood of 1% of the federal budget (very roughly $20 billion in a $3 trillion budget). The Times piece finds $3 billion in soft earmarks in one of 13 appropriations bill. So for guessing purposes, let's say there's $40 billion in soft earmarks on top of the $20 billion in hard earmarks; that amounts to something in the neighborhood of 3% of the federal budget.
What I don't understand about earmarks is why they're funded as earmarks. I mean, why wouldn't Congress want to open all these expenditures to bidding? Is it because it's slow and labor-intensive (i.e. costly) to oversee the bidding? or is it really all about funneling money to friends and political supporters?
But it turns out lawmakers can still secretly direct billions of dollars to favored organizations by making vague requests rather than issuing explicit instructions to government agencies in committee reports and spending bills. That seeming courtesy is the difference between “soft earmarks” and the more insistent “hard earmarks.
[skip]
In considering lawmakers’ spending requests, some committees in recent years have switched hard earmarks to soft ones, saying it gives agencies more flexibility. Critics, including Mr. Flake, suggest it is being done to avoid scrutiny.
“With the efforts to shine more light on the earmarking process,” he said, “I am concerned that we might see increasingly creative ways to steer funding to recipients of funding that members of Congress want to see it go to.”
So it might be the case that earmarks are not shrinking under the Democratically controlled (sort of) Congress since 2006. Nevertheless, we must keep earmarks in perspective: hard earmarks account for something in the neighborhood of 1% of the federal budget (very roughly $20 billion in a $3 trillion budget). The Times piece finds $3 billion in soft earmarks in one of 13 appropriations bill. So for guessing purposes, let's say there's $40 billion in soft earmarks on top of the $20 billion in hard earmarks; that amounts to something in the neighborhood of 3% of the federal budget.
What I don't understand about earmarks is why they're funded as earmarks. I mean, why wouldn't Congress want to open all these expenditures to bidding? Is it because it's slow and labor-intensive (i.e. costly) to oversee the bidding? or is it really all about funneling money to friends and political supporters?
Re: Common Ground?
Doubtful, unless you just mean opposition to her as the VP. I suspect our reasons for dislike are rather different. Unlike LJ, I thought she was stellar as NSA and don't yet see the "failed" Iraqi policy.
My beef is with her having sold out at State. To be fair though, I must assume she has done so at the instruction, or at least tacit approval of her boss.
My beef is with her having sold out at State. To be fair though, I must assume she has done so at the instruction, or at least tacit approval of her boss.
Re: Condi
You are correct Stephanie, I have recently, and often, spoken about my loathing of Condi. She was a disaster as NSA and she isn't exactly setting the world on fire as SOS. And let's be honest about why she would even be considered as VP - and I'll apologize up front for seeming to be insensitive - she would be chosen for her skin color. To offset the black vote for Obama. And, if by some miracle Hillary would be on the ticket (in either spot), to offset the female vote.
What exactly are her qualifications? Just because you serve in gov't doesn't mean you are good at it. I think she would be to much of a direct link to GWB and his failed Iraq policy She would have to spend too much time trying to explain those decisions and what happened in the past than to talk about what would happen in the future with a McCain administration. McCain seems to ( I think) have different ideas about Iraq, the Middle East, "stress" interrogation techniques than the GWB administration and I can't see how Condi could come across as sincere if she campaigned proposing and endorsing positions different than what is, and has, occurred under her watch.
What exactly are her qualifications? Just because you serve in gov't doesn't mean you are good at it. I think she would be to much of a direct link to GWB and his failed Iraq policy She would have to spend too much time trying to explain those decisions and what happened in the past than to talk about what would happen in the future with a McCain administration. McCain seems to ( I think) have different ideas about Iraq, the Middle East, "stress" interrogation techniques than the GWB administration and I can't see how Condi could come across as sincere if she campaigned proposing and endorsing positions different than what is, and has, occurred under her watch.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Frets on Fire
Tip for those with kids, nephews, nieces or too much time on your hands:
Frets on Fire is an open source (free) version of a game very similar to Guitar Hero. You don't need a pseudo guitar like GH has; you can hold your computer keyboard upside down, assign function keys and "play" your keyboard. You're not learning to play the guitar, of course, with either GH or FoF, but you do get familiar with guitar parts in a way that you might not have been, so it does have a little bit of music education value. And you don't shoot anyone.
Frets on Fire is an open source (free) version of a game very similar to Guitar Hero. You don't need a pseudo guitar like GH has; you can hold your computer keyboard upside down, assign function keys and "play" your keyboard. You're not learning to play the guitar, of course, with either GH or FoF, but you do get familiar with guitar parts in a way that you might not have been, so it does have a little bit of music education value. And you don't shoot anyone.
Condi striving for VP
Ugh. Four years ago, I would have been enthusiastic. No more.
Maybe, just maybe, if she's limited to Russian affairs. She'd have to be kept out of any Israeli discussions.
Maybe, just maybe, if she's limited to Russian affairs. She'd have to be kept out of any Israeli discussions.
Heston on Civil Rights, other than gun rights
Who knew? From the Houston Chronicle's website:
Even with all of his screen and stage work, Heston always found time for political activities and public service.
He headed the Hollywood delegation in the 1963 civil rights march on Washington. Before that, he'd participated in smaller, less publicized civil rights demonstrations and arranged a meeting between the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and officials of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to discuss opening the union to blacks.
Even with all of his screen and stage work, Heston always found time for political activities and public service.
He headed the Hollywood delegation in the 1963 civil rights march on Washington. Before that, he'd participated in smaller, less publicized civil rights demonstrations and arranged a meeting between the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and officials of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to discuss opening the union to blacks.
Public Education Katastrofy
Um, what's a kuhtastrofy?
From the Denver Post:
According to a new study by America's Promise Alliance, 17 of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose wife, Alma, chairs the alliance, calls it a "catastrophe."
This is up from 14 districts five years ago. This is more than disturbing. Regretfully, many Texas cities are really lagging. See this 2002-3 chart. I know that here in Texas much of this is due to the flight of the more well-off to the suburbs to escape the bad schools but less than 50%? That is abominable.
From the Denver Post:
According to a new study by America's Promise Alliance, 17 of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose wife, Alma, chairs the alliance, calls it a "catastrophe."
This is up from 14 districts five years ago. This is more than disturbing. Regretfully, many Texas cities are really lagging. See this 2002-3 chart. I know that here in Texas much of this is due to the flight of the more well-off to the suburbs to escape the bad schools but less than 50%? That is abominable.
Compound Butter
Come join us!
Koresh was a home boy. Thanks, Houston.
Jeffs is an interloper from California originally.
And who can forget those zany guys at the Republic of Texas.
Koresh was a home boy. Thanks, Houston.
Jeffs is an interloper from California originally.
And who can forget those zany guys at the Republic of Texas.
Compound interest
What is with Texas and the crazed, pseudo-religious, wacko compounds?
And is anyone ever up to anything good in a "compound"?
And is anyone ever up to anything good in a "compound"?
Saturday, April 05, 2008
More Paradise
Shaky, I know but the only way I could capture the other end of the tunnel...full of bats by the way.
Just liked the trees.
A Glorious Day in the Hill Country
All of these are about 40 miles SSW of Austin after a horribly dry winter. We need rain. That's why I can't produce pics of bluebonnets this year.
Character hits
RJ Eskow, writing on Huffington Post, discusses how character assassination is easily accomplished:
If Martin Luther King were alive today there would be no need for gunfire. He died just as he began speaking out forcefully against the Vietnam War. Were he alive to speak out against the occupation of Iraq -- as he undoubtedly would -- it's easy to imagine how the the character assassins would conduct their hit.
First, an "unnamed source" in the Justice Department would start talking to friendly reporters -- off the record, of course -- about "evidence" that Dr. King was receiving money from suspect Middle Eastern sources. Then the FBI's recordings of Dr. King's private life would be leaked to a friendly media outlet -- probably Matt Drudge. After that, Fox News would scour all the available video of Dr. King's speeches, carefully editing them so that they sound more inflammatory and less peace-loving. They would then broadcast them in an endless loop, as the YouTube hits of these misleading clips reached into the millions.
That's a much more effective way to destroy someone than a gun. Bullets only kill the physical body, but character assassination destroys the person's reputation -- and their political effectiveness. Martyrs are a powerful force, but disgraced leaders can't threaten the status quo.
If Martin Luther King were alive today there would be no need for gunfire. He died just as he began speaking out forcefully against the Vietnam War. Were he alive to speak out against the occupation of Iraq -- as he undoubtedly would -- it's easy to imagine how the the character assassins would conduct their hit.
First, an "unnamed source" in the Justice Department would start talking to friendly reporters -- off the record, of course -- about "evidence" that Dr. King was receiving money from suspect Middle Eastern sources. Then the FBI's recordings of Dr. King's private life would be leaked to a friendly media outlet -- probably Matt Drudge. After that, Fox News would scour all the available video of Dr. King's speeches, carefully editing them so that they sound more inflammatory and less peace-loving. They would then broadcast them in an endless loop, as the YouTube hits of these misleading clips reached into the millions.
That's a much more effective way to destroy someone than a gun. Bullets only kill the physical body, but character assassination destroys the person's reputation -- and their political effectiveness. Martyrs are a powerful force, but disgraced leaders can't threaten the status quo.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
My Wal-Mart Fixation
David Freddoso at NRO on the $4.00 prescriptions:
In September of 2006, Wal-Mart rolled out its $4 generic prescription deal, which promised to provide a month’s supply of some 300 drugs (now 361) for less than the cost of a pint of beer. Several other chains — Target, Costco (which is now offering 100 drugs for $10), and Kroger’s, among others — lowered prices in order to compete. Wal-Mart announced last month that its program alone, enacted without any government compulsion, has saved consumers $1.03 billion in less than 18 months. If the other firms’ price reductions are included as well, the total savings could easily be twice as great.
In September of 2006, Wal-Mart rolled out its $4 generic prescription deal, which promised to provide a month’s supply of some 300 drugs (now 361) for less than the cost of a pint of beer. Several other chains — Target, Costco (which is now offering 100 drugs for $10), and Kroger’s, among others — lowered prices in order to compete. Wal-Mart announced last month that its program alone, enacted without any government compulsion, has saved consumers $1.03 billion in less than 18 months. If the other firms’ price reductions are included as well, the total savings could easily be twice as great.
Joseph J. Ellis's American Creation
I enjoyed it but not as much as Founding Brothers. It covered a bit too much for me to process in just 13 hours. It probably didn't help that my road trips were few and far between while listening.
I really did enjoy the elucidation of the two tragedies of the founding...slavery and the Native American issues.
Re: Advice Needed
Thanks for the opinions. Here is the before picture:
When I get my books in, I'll post an after picture.
When I get my books in, I'll post an after picture.
Old fart does Helter Skelter
Not sure what the message is here, but I'm pretty sure I don't like it. Some interesting video, though. Via Allah.
Michael Barone's breakdown of Texas (Dem. Caucus not included)
His Breakdown:
Clinton won her crucial victory in Texas, [that is a link to a very cool uselectionatlas.org] 51 percent to 47 percent.
Obama carried 24 counties, Clinton 226; one was tied, and three small counties in the northern panhandle cast no Democratic primary votes at all. Obama carried four counties with more than 60 percent of the vote—Travis (Austin: state capital, University of Texas), Dallas (blacks and upscale whites), and Fort Bend and Grimes (western suburbs of Houston, with rapidly growing black populations). Obama counties were concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, metro Houston, and a ring of counties around Austin, whose denizens seem to be spreading across the countryside (the hill country west of Austin is beautiful). He carried Jefferson County (Beaumont, with the highest black percentage in Texas) and Smith and Tyler counties (East Texas, Tyler, and Longview, where most whites are Republicans and most Democratic primary voters were very likely black). Obama got an impressive 44 percent of whites' votes, probably mostly upscale, and 85 percent of blacks' votes. But he got only 35 percent among Latinos, according to the exit polls, and ran far, far behind Clinton in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where she got 73 percent of the vote in Hidalgo County (McAllen), 77 percent in Webb County (Laredo), and 69 percent in El Paso County. You also see Clinton getting more than 70 percent in some east Texas and central Texas rural counties with low black populations: Jacksonians.
Clinton won her crucial victory in Texas, [that is a link to a very cool uselectionatlas.org] 51 percent to 47 percent.
Obama carried 24 counties, Clinton 226; one was tied, and three small counties in the northern panhandle cast no Democratic primary votes at all. Obama carried four counties with more than 60 percent of the vote—Travis (Austin: state capital, University of Texas), Dallas (blacks and upscale whites), and Fort Bend and Grimes (western suburbs of Houston, with rapidly growing black populations). Obama counties were concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, metro Houston, and a ring of counties around Austin, whose denizens seem to be spreading across the countryside (the hill country west of Austin is beautiful). He carried Jefferson County (Beaumont, with the highest black percentage in Texas) and Smith and Tyler counties (East Texas, Tyler, and Longview, where most whites are Republicans and most Democratic primary voters were very likely black). Obama got an impressive 44 percent of whites' votes, probably mostly upscale, and 85 percent of blacks' votes. But he got only 35 percent among Latinos, according to the exit polls, and ran far, far behind Clinton in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where she got 73 percent of the vote in Hidalgo County (McAllen), 77 percent in Webb County (Laredo), and 69 percent in El Paso County. You also see Clinton getting more than 70 percent in some east Texas and central Texas rural counties with low black populations: Jacksonians.
Re: Engagement
Uh, I actually will engage on one point. I've always heard that the Ohio Teachers Union Pension Fund is one of the nations largest which is why I mentioned it. While I certainly agree that a board of directors of Huge Co. is not going to care much about the vote of a single teacher who owns even some substantial interest (say a million bucks worth) of Huge Co., that board is going to care about the interests of the trustees of the Pension Fund (or the manager of a big mutual fund).
Update: btw, the point was not to say that corporations are pure. Nothing run by men can be. I'm a capitalist that believes in the markets; I'm not a corporatist. Left to their own devices, boards will always try to opt for monopoly or somehow otherwise put a competitor at a disadvantage for gain.
Update: btw, the point was not to say that corporations are pure. Nothing run by men can be. I'm a capitalist that believes in the markets; I'm not a corporatist. Left to their own devices, boards will always try to opt for monopoly or somehow otherwise put a competitor at a disadvantage for gain.
Re: Advice needed...
I go subject matter/genre and after that it is more just an aesthetic thing. What looks good next to what?
(Re: Hot Buttons. I mentioned in my first post that you and I had been down the corporate road before so I'm not going to engage but do appreciate your personal perspective.)
(Re: Hot Buttons. I mentioned in my first post that you and I had been down the corporate road before so I'm not going to engage but do appreciate your personal perspective.)
Advice Needed
I am putting out a call to my brethren for some guidance. As part of our home renovation, we had a bookcase made that will take up the length of an entire wall. It is being delivered/installed today. I've been going back and forth in my mind trying to decide how to arrange my vast book collection in said bookcase. By subject? By genre? Alphabetical regardless of subject/genre? Hardcover separate from paperback? Both intermixed?
The possibilities are endless....advice appreciated.
The possibilities are endless....advice appreciated.
Re: (Oil Price Regulation) or we know how to push each others "hot" buttons
I'm trying to refrain from using the phrase..."begs the question" throughout this post. We'll see how I do.
I'm reading the posts from yesterday and I see the corporate mantra..."The companies’ duties are to their families...the shareholders". I swear that if I read this/hear this again, I'm going to make a bee-line to Houston to go through my father's VAST arsenal of weapons and go postal. The ONLY shareholders companies care about are the board of directors and upper management - that's it. Why do most shareholder proposals never pass at corporate meetings? Management would have you believe that it's because they are whacked-out ideas from whacked-out shareholders and all of us little guys go along with the "recommendations" of the board on how to vote. Maybe, it's because the board and upper management own a majority of the stock and it doesn't matter how any of us little guys vote.
Let's not forget that I was a part of a major "shareholder family" and I was told that my 20+ years as a part of the "family" was no longer needed or wanted, just so the "family" could make even MORE money. Not a performance issue, not an age issue, not a race issue, not a gender issue, a more $$ issue. And, I should remember that losing my job, my retirement, my pension, my insurance was a GOOD thing for the shareholders. And since I was a shareholder, they were doing this FOR me, not TO me.
I know that intellectually the arguments that most of the pro-corporate folks, economists and the like make on this subject are factual and right. But I am, like most Americans, a simple person and has a difficult time understanding why corporations, of any industry, never seem to make enough money and why these huge profits never seem to make it down to the worker, at the time when the salary gap between the worker and upper management has never been greater. I know that the corporate mantra of always doing what's best for the shareholders will never go away - I'd just like to hear that that also includes the average employee shareholder, the one that is doing the real work FOR the shareholder; the one making the sacrifices FOR the shareholder.
I'm reading the posts from yesterday and I see the corporate mantra..."The companies’ duties are to their families...the shareholders". I swear that if I read this/hear this again, I'm going to make a bee-line to Houston to go through my father's VAST arsenal of weapons and go postal. The ONLY shareholders companies care about are the board of directors and upper management - that's it. Why do most shareholder proposals never pass at corporate meetings? Management would have you believe that it's because they are whacked-out ideas from whacked-out shareholders and all of us little guys go along with the "recommendations" of the board on how to vote. Maybe, it's because the board and upper management own a majority of the stock and it doesn't matter how any of us little guys vote.
Let's not forget that I was a part of a major "shareholder family" and I was told that my 20+ years as a part of the "family" was no longer needed or wanted, just so the "family" could make even MORE money. Not a performance issue, not an age issue, not a race issue, not a gender issue, a more $$ issue. And, I should remember that losing my job, my retirement, my pension, my insurance was a GOOD thing for the shareholders. And since I was a shareholder, they were doing this FOR me, not TO me.
I know that intellectually the arguments that most of the pro-corporate folks, economists and the like make on this subject are factual and right. But I am, like most Americans, a simple person and has a difficult time understanding why corporations, of any industry, never seem to make enough money and why these huge profits never seem to make it down to the worker, at the time when the salary gap between the worker and upper management has never been greater. I know that the corporate mantra of always doing what's best for the shareholders will never go away - I'd just like to hear that that also includes the average employee shareholder, the one that is doing the real work FOR the shareholder; the one making the sacrifices FOR the shareholder.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Gummint/IRS "Transparency"
The thing that really drive me nuts about the fuel tax (and those like it) in particular and corporate taxes in general is that these taxes are really opaque sales taxes on the ultimate consumers. If fuel prices were being marketed at say an average of $.50 less and then the receipts (does anyone even get gas receipts any longer unless getting reimbursed?) showed a sales tax of $.50 per gallon or $8.75 per tank (in my case), I think much of this demagoguery against corporations would have to stop.
This opacity is what gives rise to so much of that that the left (me, too) decries: lobbyists tweaking the tax code for the benefit of their clients. Very few have the time or inclination to sift through all the flotsam and jetsam of the code.
It's like the whole withholding thing. It's opaque. If we had to set aside every month one-twelfth of the amount of anticipated taxes for the year and then writing a big check every April instead of "escrowing" those taxes every month, people would be much more upset every April. Every one of us knows someone who is excited every January and file his return immediately because of the "refund" not realizing that he could have been earning interest on that refund (instead of having it devalued because of inflation).
This opacity is what gives rise to so much of that that the left (me, too) decries: lobbyists tweaking the tax code for the benefit of their clients. Very few have the time or inclination to sift through all the flotsam and jetsam of the code.
It's like the whole withholding thing. It's opaque. If we had to set aside every month one-twelfth of the amount of anticipated taxes for the year and then writing a big check every April instead of "escrowing" those taxes every month, people would be much more upset every April. Every one of us knows someone who is excited every January and file his return immediately because of the "refund" not realizing that he could have been earning interest on that refund (instead of having it devalued because of inflation).
Re: Oil price regulation
First, on the 9%, I just have to rely on those sources that I've seen around. I think that the Jacoby column had the average something less than that. But I think that it is the vertical margin he (and others) intends to address. It can't be completely vertical because Exxon/Mobile gets oil from some of its own reserves (at least I think it does) and some (I think the vast majority) from reserves owned by others.
As to the regulation of price, if you mean some governmental regulators out there setting price, then no. In Texas, the insurance industry is heavily regulated and often, as in title insurance, the prices are actually set by the state.
Excluding taxes, the prices are almost solely governed by supply and demand (with some effect that I don't pretend to understand by the speculators). In the 70's the spikes were triggered by the artificial decrease in supply by OPEC. Today, the spikes are due to our own increased demands as well as the increasing demands of two already huge, and growing, economies in Asia.
And why don't these folks rail against big Coca-Cola (a whopping 21% margin) or, what has to be much worse, big bottled-water or big Starbucks (I have no idea but $3.50 for a coffee seems outrageous to me)?
As to the regulation of price, if you mean some governmental regulators out there setting price, then no. In Texas, the insurance industry is heavily regulated and often, as in title insurance, the prices are actually set by the state.
Excluding taxes, the prices are almost solely governed by supply and demand (with some effect that I don't pretend to understand by the speculators). In the 70's the spikes were triggered by the artificial decrease in supply by OPEC. Today, the spikes are due to our own increased demands as well as the increasing demands of two already huge, and growing, economies in Asia.
And why don't these folks rail against big Coca-Cola (a whopping 21% margin) or, what has to be much worse, big bottled-water or big Starbucks (I have no idea but $3.50 for a coffee seems outrageous to me)?
More Senatorial Gasbaggery
Does this have to happen every year?
Per Reuters:
Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine and Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island said record energy prices have been a windfall for big oil companies and they need to share some of their profits with consumers who are in need.
Now, from the International Herald Tribune:
Consumers [in Pennsylvania] also pay state taxes of 32.3 cents per gallon on gasoline, 11th highest in the nation.
...
Fuel prices in Pennsylvania averaged $3.28 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline and $4.33 a gallon for diesel on Monday, compared with $2.70 for regular unleaded and $2.84 for diesel a year ago.
Federal fuel taxes amount to 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.
It appears that the full set of fuel taxes paid by Minnesotans are $.404 per gallon and $.384 for Texans as of January, 2008 per the API.
Of course, that does not factor in any of the corporate income taxes paid by importers or producers, refiners and transporters (to the extent they are different entities), and retailers. I never see any discussion of local sales taxes figured in theses categories so I suspect they are not charged or are not charged uniformly.
Yep, just went back to the API chart and it appears that there are no sales taxes on either end of I-45, but other states do charge them (or some kind of other tax).
What? How about a tax break for those consumers in need?
LJ and I have been down this road before and my recollection is that the profit margin for big oil is about 9%. In gross dollars it always sounds huge, even obscene; it is much better to analyze by way of looking at the margins. If a farmer sell 50 bushels of corn to an ethanol refiner in 2006 for $250 and fifty more in 2007 for $500, what is wrong with that farmer earning $22 in profit the first year and $45 the next (assuming a 9% margin). As the price goes up the farmer should voluntarily decrease her margin out of some sense of fairness?
What about the farmer’s duty to her family? What does she do during the drought years which will surely come? This is Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream stuff... skinny cows eating sleek cows and blighted grain eating good grain...followed by seven years of a 50% tax rate.
Uh oh, just found a high-tax, anti-capitalist story in the Bible. I’ll just blame it on being in the Old Testament. Whose dreams are Snowe and Reed interpreting? And who’s enabling them to do it?
Do the federal or state governments reduce their "margins" because the price has increased? Why not do that for those consumers in need? Looks like in 2002 those consumers in need in Maine would save about $.419 per gallon of gasoline and those Rhode Island about $.494.
The companies’ duties are to their families...the shareholders. If they judge it a good idea to earn a little goodwill like Hugo Chavez did by offering a deal on heating oil to New Englanders, fine. BP has been running those green television spots for at least a couple of years now. Think that ad campaign’s being run to make the planet safer?
So the Senators know how to better spend that 9% than do the pension holders in the Ohio State Teachers Union? Better than me in my 70's when I’m trying to live off my 401k and what, the $1000 per month that Social Security will be able to send me?
Per Reuters:
Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine and Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island said record energy prices have been a windfall for big oil companies and they need to share some of their profits with consumers who are in need.
Now, from the International Herald Tribune:
Consumers [in Pennsylvania] also pay state taxes of 32.3 cents per gallon on gasoline, 11th highest in the nation.
...
Fuel prices in Pennsylvania averaged $3.28 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline and $4.33 a gallon for diesel on Monday, compared with $2.70 for regular unleaded and $2.84 for diesel a year ago.
Federal fuel taxes amount to 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.
It appears that the full set of fuel taxes paid by Minnesotans are $.404 per gallon and $.384 for Texans as of January, 2008 per the API.
Of course, that does not factor in any of the corporate income taxes paid by importers or producers, refiners and transporters (to the extent they are different entities), and retailers. I never see any discussion of local sales taxes figured in theses categories so I suspect they are not charged or are not charged uniformly.
Yep, just went back to the API chart and it appears that there are no sales taxes on either end of I-45, but other states do charge them (or some kind of other tax).
What? How about a tax break for those consumers in need?
LJ and I have been down this road before and my recollection is that the profit margin for big oil is about 9%. In gross dollars it always sounds huge, even obscene; it is much better to analyze by way of looking at the margins. If a farmer sell 50 bushels of corn to an ethanol refiner in 2006 for $250 and fifty more in 2007 for $500, what is wrong with that farmer earning $22 in profit the first year and $45 the next (assuming a 9% margin). As the price goes up the farmer should voluntarily decrease her margin out of some sense of fairness?
What about the farmer’s duty to her family? What does she do during the drought years which will surely come? This is Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream stuff... skinny cows eating sleek cows and blighted grain eating good grain...followed by seven years of a 50% tax rate.
Uh oh, just found a high-tax, anti-capitalist story in the Bible. I’ll just blame it on being in the Old Testament. Whose dreams are Snowe and Reed interpreting? And who’s enabling them to do it?
Do the federal or state governments reduce their "margins" because the price has increased? Why not do that for those consumers in need? Looks like in 2002 those consumers in need in Maine would save about $.419 per gallon of gasoline and those Rhode Island about $.494.
The companies’ duties are to their families...the shareholders. If they judge it a good idea to earn a little goodwill like Hugo Chavez did by offering a deal on heating oil to New Englanders, fine. BP has been running those green television spots for at least a couple of years now. Think that ad campaign’s being run to make the planet safer?
So the Senators know how to better spend that 9% than do the pension holders in the Ohio State Teachers Union? Better than me in my 70's when I’m trying to live off my 401k and what, the $1000 per month that Social Security will be able to send me?
Office walls
In follow-up to Scooter's post about what's on his office walls (quotes of Keynes and Greenspan) I've got a Faith Ringgold poster on my office wall:
Tar Beach: Woman on a Bridge Series Part I.
There's text in the white bands at the top and bottom. A little girl talks about lying on Tar Beach (roof top) and looking at the George Washington Bridge that her daddy helped build; she mentions that her daddy can't join the union because of his race. The original hangs at the Guggenheim.
Took me this long to post, as I was waiting on permission, now received, from Faith Ringgold's staff to post the image. (Have to take it down after 3 months.)
{Update: Image removed July 2, 2008.]
Took me this long to post, as I was waiting on permission, now received, from Faith Ringgold's staff to post the image. (Have to take it down after 3 months.)
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
I enjoyed it and would recommend if you have any interest in the period.
Re: Tammy Bruce
Heard about five minutes this morning and she sounded pretty right to me, railing on Barry for his silly gas commercial, execrating Carter, and praising Reagan.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Ickes channels Michael
Hillary's camp is trying to execute Michael's strategy for her, as reported by Greg Sargent at TPM:
In an interview with me this morning, senior Hillary adviser Harold Ickes confirmed that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a key topic in discussions with uncommitted super-delegates over whether Obama is electable in a general election.
The comments from Ickes, who is Hillary's chief delegate hunter, are to my knowledge the first on-the-record confirmation from a Hillary adviser that the Wright controversy is a subject in conversations between the Hillary campaign and the super-delegates her advisers are trying to win over to Hillary's side.
In an interview with me this morning, senior Hillary adviser Harold Ickes confirmed that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a key topic in discussions with uncommitted super-delegates over whether Obama is electable in a general election.
The comments from Ickes, who is Hillary's chief delegate hunter, are to my knowledge the first on-the-record confirmation from a Hillary adviser that the Wright controversy is a subject in conversations between the Hillary campaign and the super-delegates her advisers are trying to win over to Hillary's side.
Oil in North Dakota
According to The Institute for Regional Studies at North Dakota State University:
In 1928 exploration work was conducted in 1928 by Transcontinental Oil Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This work was done likely due to the wildcatting of the Big Valley Oil Company which sank a well in the Nesson Valley. In 1937 Standard Oil Company of California leased land and conducted surveys in the state, expending over $100,000. In November 1937 drilling commenced by Manning and Martin Company of Denver. When the well was abandoned in 1938 it had gone to 10,281 feet.
It was not until April 1951 that oil was discovered in North Dakota on the Clarence Iverson farm near Tioga by Amerada Oil Company. The discovery set off an oil boom in western part of the state. Oil production centered in Williams, McKenzie, Mountrail, billings, Bottineau and Burke counties. An oil refinery was constructed at Mandan, N.D. After a decline in oil production in the late 1960s and early 1970s there was a resurgence in oil exploration in the later 1970s. Beginning in 1986 there has been a decline in drilling and oil production, but the Williston Basin may still be under-explored.
In 1928 exploration work was conducted in 1928 by Transcontinental Oil Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This work was done likely due to the wildcatting of the Big Valley Oil Company which sank a well in the Nesson Valley. In 1937 Standard Oil Company of California leased land and conducted surveys in the state, expending over $100,000. In November 1937 drilling commenced by Manning and Martin Company of Denver. When the well was abandoned in 1938 it had gone to 10,281 feet.
It was not until April 1951 that oil was discovered in North Dakota on the Clarence Iverson farm near Tioga by Amerada Oil Company. The discovery set off an oil boom in western part of the state. Oil production centered in Williams, McKenzie, Mountrail, billings, Bottineau and Burke counties. An oil refinery was constructed at Mandan, N.D. After a decline in oil production in the late 1960s and early 1970s there was a resurgence in oil exploration in the later 1970s. Beginning in 1986 there has been a decline in drilling and oil production, but the Williston Basin may still be under-explored.
Sonny Bryan's
Is this still it in Big D?
Growing up, we were fans of Red's (Sonny's dad) but they are apparently all gone now.
Growing up, we were fans of Red's (Sonny's dad) but they are apparently all gone now.
Re: Film about ND Oil
But did they ever find it in the thirties? Pretty cool that they got members of the New York Philharmonic for the soundtrack. Finally had time to watch the whole thing.
I've got to think you're right about the wind almost never blowing westerly.
I've got to think you're right about the wind almost never blowing westerly.
Update: Obama takes Texas
Updating yesterday's Statesman story: per the radio this morning with 50% of the counties reporting, Obama takes the Democrat Caucus 58% to 42%.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Top ten reasons why McCain wins
3. Obama's frequently posited obliviousness and never-posited arrogance: It strains credulity to believe that Obama had little reason to believe that Rezko was a crook. Or that he didn't realize his self-narrated links to Selma and the Kennedy family were fabricated. Or that his pastor was an angry bigot and conspiracy theorist. Or that he didn't fill out that questionaire that had his handwriting on it. Throw in his Hillary "you're likeable enough" and stories like this from the John Edwards camp, and the non-partisan avatar of Hope and Healing seems a bit less likeable himself.
List here.
List here.
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